Fire heavily damages Mulberry Street home in Claremont

CLAREMONT — A Mulberry Street home was heavily damaged in a fire Tuesday afternoon, according to a news release from the Claremont Fire Department.

Firefighters took about an hour to extinguish the blaze at 131 Mulberry St. and said the midafternoon fire caused “extensive damage” throughout the 1½-story home.

The home was built in 1900 and was being rented out by its owner, Manfred Borcuk, of Cornish, the news release said.

No one was injured in the fire, though several cats had to be rescued, and the occupants lost most of their belongings, the release said.

The home, which is assessed at $172,000, is not considered habitable. The cause of the fire is under investigation but is not considered suspicious, the release said.

Fire departments from Ascutney, Cornish and Newport assisted with the call.

This was the third home to be heavily damaged by a fire in Claremont in the past seven weeks.

Mia Follensbee, 29, was killed in a fire at her Myrtle Street home on May 5. And Francis Viola Jr., 58, was killed in a Dennison Avenue fire in early April.